That little, seven-word warning ought to appear on every “some-assembly-required” package, whether it is a Bar-B-Que, a play structure, a plastic model airplane, or some  high-tech piece of equipment–anything that comes disassembled. And don’t try to tell me you have never gotten yourself in trouble by ignoring the assembly instructions thinking you were sure “smart enough to do this.” I mean, it looks  pretty obvious and some good old common sense should be good enough. After all, “I have a degree in engineering, how hard can this be?”  Like most intelligent men and women, you thought you could put it together without help of the assembly instructions.
      Chuck Swindoll, pastor, author and speaker tells of one time that he looked at a simple backyard swing set, and thought, “Man, a guy with my ability shouldn’t have any problem with this.” But an hour later, after making a complete mess of  the project, he looked for the instructions and across the top of the instruction manual was this opening line:  “Now that you have made a mess of things, please start over and follow these simple instructions!”   Hey, how did the writer of the manual know?  Because he knows  human nature.  It is part of our fallen and proud disposition to do things our way, and only when the consequences of failure become overwhelming do we seek help. Most manufacturers, acknowledging this stubborn tendency in mankind, and anticipating what is going to happen, include with the product a  “Quick-Start-Guide” along with the normal detailed instruction manual.   This is usually a condensed version of instructions which provide just enough information to keep the user from hurting himself or damaging the product! 
     Well, life happens to come with an owner’s manual too. The Creator has written His  instructions in the inspired pages of Scripture.  Starting in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and ending in the 66th book, Revelation, He  describes for us our origin, explains our purpose, relates how sin separated us  from fellowship with God, prescribes the remedy He provided, explains to us how to live, and even reveals what will happen in the future. He did this all by using some 40 different human authors over a period of 1500-1600 years and yet orchestrated every word they recorded so that it was the exact message He intended. He has presented His instructions in the most amazing piece of  literature every known to mankind, full of history, poetry, prophecy, personal  letters, an exciting adventures.   
     But, man’s tendency in his pride and stubbornness is to lay aside the Owner’s Manual and  rush headlong into life with the assumption that our own intelligence and common  sense is enough to get us through. Tragically, we foul up something far more significant than a child’s model airplane or swing set. We foul up our life and  maybe others in the process. And even worse, we are headed for an eternity separated from God. The Bible says “There is a way that seems right to  man, but its end is the way of death” (Pr. 14:12).  The author of that verse, Solomon, also wrote: “The way of the fool is right in his  own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (Pr. 121:15).   The fool is the one who ignores the assembly instructions and the “owner’s manual.”  The wise man (or woman) is the one who reads the instructions and follows them. 
 
     Many people try  to make sense out of life without ever finding out what their “Maker” said about them and their purpose. Many focus their time and energy on acquiring  possessions that will be sold for pennies on the dollar after they are gone.  Many leave a trail of broken relationships and heartache.  Many climb the ladder of success in business or athletics or music or entertainment, only to find it leaning against the wrong wall. Solomon should  know, he had the means to try anything he wanted (while ignoring God) and his conclusion?  “All things are wearisome; …The eye is  not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing…there is nothing new under the sun….I have seen all the works which have been done under  the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind…And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them.  I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure…Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind  and there was no profit under the sun…Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity” (Eccl. 1:8,9,14; 2:10,11,18,19).   
     Solomon had  decided to lay aside the “Owner’s Manual” and try things on his own. He made quite a mess and found it empty and meaningless. He finally picked up the Manual and passes on this advice to us: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will  say, ‘I have no delight in them…’  The conclusion, when all has been  heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Eccl. 12:1,13).
      The writer of the assembly instructions for Chuck Swindoll’s swing set and the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes give the same piece of  advice: “Now that you have made a mess of things, please start over and  follow these instructions!”  No matter what kind of mess you have made, it is never too late to turn to the “Owner’s Manual” and start  following the instructions.  We cannot hope to be good for anything on our own; however, if we read and follow the instructions God  provided, our lives can become monuments to His glory and models of His goodness. Paul wrote, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (II Cor. 9:8). He also wrote this: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph.  3:20).  The pieces of your life will fit together so much better if you follow the assembly instructions of the Manufacturer. He had a purpose in how He made you and knows exactly how to put your life together so that it will be purposeful, meaningful and significant.
 
    Forever His,
 
           Pastor Dave 
 
(The illustration from Chuck Swindoll is taken from his book: The Owner’s Manual for Christians: The  Essential Guide for a God-honoring Life,  Thomas Nelson,  2009